Feathering reversible propeller



Dec. 5, 1950 w. H. PETERSEN 2,532,371

FEATHERING REVERSIBLE PROPELLER Filed July 19, 1946 JNVENTOR. WERNER H PETERSEN BYWGM ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 5, 1950 2,532,371 FEATHERING REVERSIBLE PROPELLER Werner Petersen, San Diego, Calif. Application July 19, 1946, Serial No. 684,736

Ciaims.

My invention relates to a feathering reversible propeller, more particularly adapted for use in marine propulsion, and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a feathering reversible propeller of this class which may be fully feathered for passing through kelp beds or the like, whereupon the seaweed is not gathered on the propeller blades;

Second, to provide a feathering reversible propeller of this class in which the reverse operation of the propeller propels the boat in connection therewith by thrust directly proportional to the centrifugal force of the pivoted blades of said propeller which are pivoted substantially parallel to the axis of the drive shaft when feathered;

Third, to provide a propeller of this class in which the blades thereof are pivoted and provided with a stop limiting the forward move ment thereof when thrust in the water tends to force the same forward on the driving shaft;

Fourth, to provide a propeller of this class in which the pivoted blades are pivotal on an axis close to the drive shaft, greatly reducing the extension of the blades so that the boat in connection therewith may pass over sandbars, kelp beds or the like without injuring or entangling the blades of the propeller;

Fifth, to provide a propeller of this class in which the center of gravity of each of the pivoted blades is nearer the outer ends thereof than the inner pivoted end whereby maximum centrifugal force of the blades is attained when revolved about the axis of the drive shaft, creating maximum thrust when operated in the reverse direction; and

Sixth, to provide a propeller of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, efiicient in its action, and which will not readily V deteriorate or get out of order.

With theseand other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon forming a part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of my feathering reversible propeller; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end view thereof showing a part in section; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, showing parts in elevation.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

The shaft l, nut 2, hub 3, blades 4, and pins 5 constitute the principal parts and portions of my feathering reversible propeller.

The shaft l is a substantially conventional revolving drive shaft having an externally tapered portion in at the end of which is screw-threadedly connected the nut 2 holding the hub 3 on said tapered portion la, all as shown best in Fig. 3 of the drawings. This hub 3.is provided with radially disposed slotted portions 3a in which the boss portions 4a of the blades 4 are pivotally secured by the pins 5 which extend through the hub 3 in chordal disposition as shown by dash lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The normally forward end portion 4b of each of the blade boss portions 4a provides a pivotal stop for the blades when thrust forwardly during forward operation thereof. The heel portion 40 of each of these boss portions 4a, is provided with a constant radius concentric with the axis of the pins 5, permitting the blades 4 to pivot freely in a rearward direction in the slotted portions 3a of the hub 3 for full feathering thereof relatively to the drive shaft I.

The operation of my feathering reversible propeller is substantially as follows:

When the drive shaft l is operated in connection with a boat or the like, the propeller blades 4 are immersed in the water. During forward thrust rotation of the blades 4, the stop portions 412 of the boss portions 441 of the propeller blades 4 engage the bottom portions of the slots 30!. of the hub 3 providing a positive stop for the blades 4 whereby forward thrust is taken by the shaft 1 in the conventional manner. When passing over sand bars or kelp beds the power is shut off permitting the drive shaft 1 to stop rotation and the boat may then coast over the sand bars or kelp beds while the blades 4 are pivoted backwardly in the moving water to a plane substantially parallel with the axis of the drive shaft I. Thus, the sand bar clearance is greatly improved and the blades 4 do not become entangled in kelp or other objects. When it is desired to reverse the drive shaft l for reverse directional operation of the boat in connection therewith, the drive shaft l is operated in the reverse direction which causes a rearward thrust on the blades 4 tending to pivot the same backwardly. These blades 4, however, are provided with an outwardly diverging tapering cross section portion 4d which maintains the center of gravity of each of the blades 4 nearer the outer end than the pivotal connection thereof with the hub 3. As the speed of the drive shaft l increases in the reverse direction, centrifugal force of the blades 4 causes the blades 4 to pivot outwardly on the pins 5 and the rearward thrust created by the blades 4 in connection with the shaft I is directly proportional to the centrifugal force of the blades 4 which pivot outwardly to a certain predetermined angle accordingzto thezspeedof the-drive shaft I; that these pivoted blades having an extended center of gravity are very efficient in reverse thrust application to the drive shaft: l1;

Though I have shown and described a. par,- ticular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions lzdoinot.wish to, be

extendingradially therefrom, said'blades having astophportion arranged to-limit the pivotal movement; thereof one direction longitudinally of said: drive shaft, thewcenter: of gravity of said blades; being" nearer the. tip portion than said hub: portion;

2. A:- featherin-g reversible propeller, consisting ofi at drivel-shaft, a hub-zonzsaid drive shaft, blades havingroutwardly diverging. thickness toward the tips-thereof?pivotally'connected to said hub'and extending, radially therefrom, said blades having a stomportion arranged to limit the pivotal movement; thereof: in one directionlongitudinally of said"; driveshaft; the center of: gravity of said bladessbeingtnearer the tippontion than said' hub portion; saith blades. tapering in thickness'towardthe-tip;portionszthereoffin divengingrelation from said hub on said shaft.

3., A ,featheringreyersibl'e propeller, consisting of a drive shaft,,a hub; on saiddrive shaft, blades In actual practice, it has been found,

4 having outwardly diverging thickness toward the tips thereof pivotally connected to said hub and extending radially therefrom, said blades having a stop portion arranged to limit the pivotal movement thereof in one direction longitudinally of said drive shaft, said hub provided with slotted portions in which the inner end portions of said blades are pivotally mounted.

4. A feathering reversible propeller, consisting of a drivezshaft, a hub on said driveshaft, blades having outwardly diverging thickness toward the tips thereof pivotally connected to said hub and extending radially therefrom, said blades having a stop portion arranged to limit the pivotal movementthereof, in one direction longitudinally of said drive shaft, said hub provided with slotted portionsinwhich the inner end portions of said blades are, pivotally mounted, and pins extending through said hub, said blades and the slotted portions in said hub.

5'. A: featheringr.eversibie='propeller; consisting of 'a drive shaft, a: hub onlsaid drive shaft, blades having outwardly diverging thickness toward the tips thereof pivotally connected to said huband extending radiallyxtherefroro and having a centerof gravity nearer the tip than the hub thereof; said: blades havinga stopiportion arranged to limit; the pivotallmovement thereof inone direction longitudinally of said drive shaft, said'blades arranged: to pivot-backwardly into substantially parallel'relation with the axis of said drive shaft an'd arranged to pivot outwardly by centrifugal force during'reverse operationthereof dueto-predominant-i weight near the tips thereof.

WERNER H. PETERSEN;

REFERENCES GITED The following references are of record in the file of-this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number: Name Date 7251,0927 L-earnard' Apr. 14, 1903 7 31020 Charles June 16, 1903 866,369 Learnard Sept. 17, 1907 h496723 Miller June 3, 1924 1,7283% OZConner Sept. 17, 1929 2,227,204 Sepko Dec. 31, 1940 23169376.: Cameron Feb. 13, 1945 

